Highway Protests and Water Cannons: Extinction Rebellion’s Fight Against Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Highway Protests and Water Cannons: Extinction Rebellion’s Fight Against Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Dutch Highway Protests Enter Seventeenth Day

Highway A12 in the Hague has been a hotbed of activity for the past seventeen days as climate activists from Extinction Rebellion continue their determined protest against government subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. The activists have remained resilient, notwithstanding the police’s removal attempts, which have previously included the use of water cannons.

Water Cannons: A Contested Method of Crowd Control

The Hague police, in their attempt to clear the highway, have consistently used water cannons. However, this method has proven to be largely unsuccessful in deterring the determined protesters. This failure has led to a change in the police’s tactics, as water cannons were notably absent from the scene on the seventeenth day of the protests. A spokesperson for the Hague police stated that the absence of water cannons was due to technical issues and not a change in their protest management strategy. They have been temporarily using Belgian or German cannons while their own are being replaced.

Legal Backlash Over Water Cannon Use

On Monday, Extinction Rebellion announced a lawsuit against the State due to the use of water cannons against their activists. The group’s lawyer referred to the use of water cannons as “disproportionate,” sparking a discussion about the appropriate methods of managing protests. However, the Hague police maintain that their decision not to use water cannons during the past two days is unrelated to the impending lawsuit and is solely due to technical issues.

Thousands Arrested Since Protests Began

Since the beginning of Extinction Rebellion’s protests on September 9, the police have arrested nearly seven thousand activists. The activists have remained undeterred, continuing their fight against fossil fuel subsidies with a determination that has drawn attention from all over the world.

Key Takeaways

The past seventeen days have seen a relentless protest from Extinction Rebellion against fossil fuel subsidies. The police’s recurrent use of water cannons has become a contentious issue, leading to a lawsuit from the activist group. Meanwhile, the arrest of around seven thousand activists since the protests began underscores the extent of the group’s commitment to their cause.